18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- The person responsible for the REDZONE, more importantly, the REDZONE on a two-hour flight deserves the same lofty status afforded Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, and the Wright Brothers.
- The USA team of Gordon Sargent, Nick Dunlap and David Ford won the World team Amateur Championship in Abu Dhabi. These three were part of what I believe will be the most productive U.S. Walker Cup team collectively on the professional level since the 2011 team which included Spieth and Cantlay and a host of others with excellent professional resumes.
- Adrian Meronk is having one of the great non-Ryder Cup participating seasons from a European on the DP World Tour ever. It barely gets a shrug since Europe won.
- The assembled roster of players for the inaugural season for the TGL, starting in 2024 is akin to the 1927 New York Yankees line-up. Matched equally by the collection of celebrity/athlete/Wall Street investor roster of team owners. Expect the technology to be next level and with Tiger’s participation for it to be a primetime TV ratings hit.
- Played Old Barnwell in Aiken, South Carolina on Friday. The Brian Schneider and Blake Conant design is a BIG ballpark with immense scale. With plans for a kid’s course, another 18 hole course and founder Nick Schreiber’s mission of access and inclusion of all walks, expect Old Barnwell to be applauded for its impact on all generations and their desire to play the game.
- Ryo Ishikawa had a fantastic week at the Zozo Championship, finishing in the Top 5. His appeal, popularity and importance to golf in the Far East a decade ago is proven out by his multiple special invitations to the Masters. Those invitations are rarely extended, especially to the same person more than once.
- The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is being conducted this week in Australia with an invitation to the Masters being extended to the winner. Augusta National has been clairvoyant identifying the emerging golf regions and has seen almost immediate validation with the success of Hideki Matsuyama from Asia and Joaquin Neimann from Latin America.
- My hour-long conversation with Alan Shipnuck, the author of “Live and Let Die” is available now on the 5 Clubs YouTube channel and all digital podcast platforms as well. There isn’t a single player either quoted or profiled in the book that I have any less affinity for than before I read the book. Conflict and chaos are humanizing, they are not sweeping indictments of everyone. I hope you enjoy the discussion.
- Colin Morikawa went roughly 27 months between his 5th and 6th win. One, he’s the most accomplished player of his specific vintage. Two, its exceptionally hard to win golf tournaments on that tour and every player has ebbs.
- The fall has produced wins by Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim and Colin Morikawa. Couple the pedigree of the winners with the additional wrinkle of players trying to get into early 2024 Signature events and the PGA Tour must be pleased.They just need to adjust the days and get out of the way of football at all costs on the weekends.
- Rory McIlroy has added F1 investor/owner to his business portfolio. Rory is not fond of Greg Norman, but he is following in his path of being a global businessman with a wide array of financial interests.
- I had a very lengthy discussion with someone who has spent their career in mergers and acquisitions at the macro level and the most telling thing shared was that parties run out of things to negotiate after a couple weeks. Translation, the proposed partnership between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is on life support.
- The St. Andrews Links collegiate starts Monday with the women’s and men’s teams from Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Georgetown and Notre Dame competing at the Jubilee and Old Course over three days. Topgolf is now a strategic partner of St. Andrews Links and along with World Wide Technology they’ve brought this college event to life. Expect more and a brilliant stroke on their part to give the American college programs the stage at the Old Course.
- George Savaricas arrived at Golf Channel a few years after I did, and he not only is exceedingly likeable on the air, but he’s also become a very versatile broadcaster. Hosting live golf, studio anchor, field reporter, George can handle all of it, quite well.
- Eric Cole is a plow mule. Another start, number 36 on the season. He was built to play in the 80’s. Cole’s last four starts include a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. He’s a lock for rookie of the year.
- Minjee Lee won the BMW ladies Championship. In winning she held off Alison Lee, Lydia Ko, and Angel Yin. Minjee did not have the type of major championship season she expects of herself but at 27 with double digit wins on the LPGA she is a Hall of Fame player reaching the height of her powers.
- Steph Curry will receive the Charlie Sifford award from the World Golf Hall of Fame at the induction ceremonies next June in Pinehurst. His impact on the game is just beginning but shining a brighter light now will only increase his ability to use the game for good.
- The state of South Carolina is on fire with new and great projects. Palmetto Bluff commissioning King/Collins and Coore/Crenshaw for projects only increases the buzz about the Palmetto State beyond the new Tree Farm and Old Barnwell and the fairly recent gem, Congaree.